About me

Bringing 'heart' into our work together, I am a fully qualified, BACP Registered and Accredited therapist working in private practice since 2003, alongside considerable workplace experience as a counsellor. My approach is integrative blending a rich range of theoretical ideas and interventions held together in a relational humanistic base.

I believe passionately in this work and being able to witness people finding better resolution in their lives, whether you be bringing individual or couple issues. I find that there are some fundamentals we need: to feel valued, be understood, have connection with other people and ourselves, with our world and nature. So, I work with you as a whole person giving my full attention, bringing in relational dynamics and relevant body / mind awareness, as often our bodies hold keys to emotional states.

I am pleased to work in a tranquil, green setting where we can watch, listen to and feel nature as the seasons change; the centre also has plenty of on-site parking, can be reached by bike or bus from Bristol or nearby towns of North Somerset.

For fuller details see my website: annierobinsoncounselling.co.ukWhat I offeryou:

I regularly help people with overwhelming mood states, such as depression, sadness, grief, anger and stress; or people troubled by historical experiences, trauma, or health, or just wanting a space to talk things through. Increasingly I work with people with distressing traumatic memories. Very often people come lacking in belief or confidence in themselves, so the work will be about deepening understanding and developing more supportive internal strengths. For couples you may be struggling to understand how your relationship has become disharmonious, feeling unfair, or just stuck, and how difficult it can be to talk things though without defensive behaviours or arguments.

My therapy style is interactive, warm and authentic, with emphasis on building a trusting enough relationship for your therapy. To develop your work, I will gently encourage exploration of any patterns I observe in how eg how you view yourself and/or relate to me (and thus probably others), as keys to greater understanding of yourself and inviting possibility of difference. I believe that real change happens through challenge at your edges of awareness that is sensitive and supportive. I aim to help you develop internal confidence and strength for sustainable change.

You can have brief, focussed work - say 6, 10 or 15 sessions or much longer psychotherapy. Some people want longer term therapy to explore and unpack deeply held personal constructs. I work with people aged 16 + whatever your gender, sexual identity, or cultural background. Wheel chair access available.

I have experience of providing counselling for organisations for their employees. I also have substantive experience working with students.

I believe that each person's therapeutic journey starts before you go along for your first session and that many parallel supports such as friends, complementary therapies, creative activities, interactive apps, yoga or pilates contribute to feeling more restored and/or making significant changes for yourself. Personally I encourage developing mindfulness meditation as a way of engaging with yourself in present moment and contacting the quiet, still place in you.

I commit to work to the BACP Framework of Good Practice and Ethical Principles, which is my professional association.

Training, qualifications & experience

Training and Qualifications:

My core professional training was obtained through a BACP Accredited Counselling Diploma

Former experience as employed a counselling practitioner within a local University Wellbeing Service

Prior to my independent practice I worked with counselling agencies specialising in bereavement (Bristol Cruse) and student counselling (UWE).

Long experience as a tutor/lecturer in counselling training: tutor/lecturer at the University of Bristol (2004 - 8), University of Wales, Newport (programme leader) 2008 - 2010; Network training 2010 - 12. I have been an Associate tutor with Severn Talking Therapies.

I am a member of CAPPP (former chair) - a networking organisation for counsellors and psychotherapists in private practice in the south west.

Professional membership:

I am a Registered and Accredited Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP Registered MBACP Accred. )

I recommend an initial 'taster' session to help you check out my approach and how we could work together, for which I charge £40.

Please note: non-attendance of a booked appointment is charged at the hourly rate.

Further information

Yanley Court, Long Ashton, is a Centre for complementary therapies with a larger space for pilates, yoga, and other classes. This beautifully converted Barn, provides a tranquil space just 4 miles from Bristol city centre, and is easily accessible from towns and villages in North Somerset. With a staffed reception, and wheelchair access, there is ample car parking. It is next to a newly developed cycle route from Bristol and the local bus stop is on the main road through Long Ashton (a 10 minute walk). See http://www.yanleycourt.co.uk/